Climate Change Scoping Plan

Climate Change Scoping Plan
Name	Climate Change Scoping Plan
Type	Policy document
Issued by	California Air Resources Board; adopted by California Air Resources Board; influenced by California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006; associated_with = California Energy Commission, Governor of California, Environmental Protection Agency
Jurisdiction	California
Date issued	2008 (first); updated = 2013, 2017, 2022
Subject	greenhouse gas mitigation, emission reduction strategy

Climate Change Scoping Plan is a statewide strategic roadmap adopted to meet statutory greenhouse gas reduction mandates and to coordinate regulatory, market-based, and incentive measures across multiple sectors. The document synthesizes policy directives from legislative acts and executive offices, aligning regulatory agencies such as the California Air Resources Board with sectoral institutions including the California Energy Commission, California Public Utilities Commission, and Department of Water Resources. It frames targets, timelines, and compliance mechanisms in the context of federal and international frameworks such as the Clean Air Act, Paris Agreement, and interactions with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Overview

The plan articulates comprehensive pathways to achieve emission reductions established by the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and subsequent executive orders from the Governor of California. It integrates market instruments like cap-and-trade (administered by the California Air Resources Board), regulatory standards developed with the California Energy Commission and California Public Utilities Commission, and incentive programs coordinated with the Strategic Growth Council and California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. The document situates state actions relative to federal policies under the Clean Air Act and international commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

Legal and Policy Framework

Grounded in the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32), the plan references executive directives such as Executive Order S-3-05 and Executive Order B-55-18, and interacts with statutes like SB 32 (2016), AB 1493 (2002), and SB 100 (2018). Implementation relies on regulatory authority vested in the California Air Resources Board and coordination with entities including the California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, Department of Food and Agriculture (California), and California Natural Resources Agency. The scoping plan also considers federal legal frameworks such as the Clean Air Act and federal standards administered by the Environmental Protection Agency and anticipates harmonization with interstate efforts like the Western Climate Initiative and Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Emission Reduction Targets and Strategies

Targets in the plan trace to statutory goals: returning to 1990 emissions levels by 2020, achieving 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 pursuant to SB 32 (2016), and carbon neutrality pathways by 2045 linked to Executive Order B-55-18. Strategies include deployment of renewable energy consistent with SB 100 (2018), electrification of transportation influenced by Advanced Clean Cars regulations and standards promoted by the California Air Resources Board and California Energy Commission, building efficiency improvements aligned with the California Energy Code (Title 24), and nature-based solutions informed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). Market mechanisms such as cap-and-trade provide cost-containment while complementary measures—fuel standards, appliance standards, and land-use planning—derive from agencies like the California Public Utilities Commission and Strategic Growth Council.

Sectoral Actions (Energy, Transport, Industry, Agriculture)

Energy: The plan accelerates renewable procurement via the California Energy Commission and utility regulation via the California Public Utilities Commission, promoting solar expansion partnering with investors like California Solar Initiative-era programs and storage incentives following guidance from the California Independent System Operator.

Transport: Measures emphasize electrification driven by mandates such as Advanced Clean Cars II, infrastructure deployment linked to the California Energy Commission’s charging programs, and freight-sector regulations in coordination with the California Air Resources Board and California Highway Patrol for operational standards.

Industry: Industrial decarbonization involves industrial efficiency programs overseen by the California Energy Commission, emissions performance standards implemented by the California Air Resources Board, and partnerships with trade groups including the California Manufacturers & Technology Association.

Agriculture: Agricultural methane and nitrous oxide reductions engage the California Department of Food and Agriculture, incentive programs like those administered by the California Natural Resources Agency, and technology adoption supported by research institutions such as the University of California, Davis.

Implementation, Monitoring, and Reporting

Implementation relies on regulatory rulemaking by the California Air Resources Board, program administration by the California Energy Commission and California Public Utilities Commission, and verification systems that draw on methodologies from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and protocols used by the California Climate Investments framework. Monitoring integrates greenhouse gas inventories compiled by the California Air Resources Board with emissions data reported under cap-and-trade and sectoral reporting platforms utilized by the California Environmental Protection Agency. Compliance and enforcement mechanisms coordinate with state courts and administrative review processes.

Stakeholder Engagement and Public Consultation

Public processes involve formal workshops and comment periods coordinated by the California Air Resources Board, outreach with local governments via the League of California Cities and California State Association of Counties, and engagement with labor organizations such as the California Labor Federation and industry stakeholders including the California Chamber of Commerce. Academic reviews incorporate expertise from institutions like Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, and California State University campuses, while environmental NGOs including Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, and The Nature Conservancy contribute technical input.

Impacts, Criticism, and Revisions

The plan has influenced emissions trends tracked by the California Air Resources Board and economic analyses from institutions like the Public Policy Institute of California. Criticisms addressed legal challenges in state and federal courts, debates with industry associations such as the Western States Petroleum Association, and equity concerns raised by community groups including Communities for a Better Environment and the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water. Revisions have been issued following legislative updates like SB 350 (2015) and regulatory assessments informed by research from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and California Energy Commission studies. Category:Climate policy